Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-09
THE TWO BEAR FLAGS.
HOW A PLUCKY WOMAN iMPRO-
VlSED A FAMOUS BANNER.

Stripes.
In the magnificent hall of the iourishing
social order and historical society known as
the Pioneer of California, on Fourth street,
near Mission, in San Francisco, are displayed
two peculiar flags, the only ones of the kind
ever made, which were the standards OF the
Americans in their revolt against Mexico,
and from which they derived their name OF
the bear flag insurgents or bear flag party
These flags consist of large, almost square
piece of muslin, five or six feet in length,
once white, but now completely yellowed by
time, to the bottom of which is roughly sewn
a narrow strip of red flannel Upon the
muslin ground Of each, in the upper right
hand corner, is painted star, while the CEN
ter is ornamented with the representation of
bear, beneath which are the words, Cali
fornia Republic The only important differ
ence between the two flags is that the bear
upon one is rampant while that upon the
other is on all fours.
Mr.. John Fowler swears positively that the
flag bearing the picture of q rampant bear is
the one first made aud raised by the bear flag
insurgents
ut was in February 1916" said Mr.. Fowler
in talking of the matter, athat Gen. Fremont,
at the head of an exploring expedition sent
out by the United States government, having
entered California, then possession OF Mex
leo, without the permission of the Mexican
government was encamped at Fort Gabilan,
when a dispute arose between him and ma
tive Californian about horse which the lat
ter had found in the possession of one OF Fire.
mont's men, and which he claimed as having
been stolen. Fremont refused to surrender
the horse and defied the Mexican authorities,
who had no troops in the neighborhood with
which they could safely attack the American
rifiemen.
81 was about % years of age, and was in
the employ of Mr.. John Suffer, an American,
who had acquired considerable property in
California, and who owned, some miles from
Sonoma, large ranch, where he had erected
sort of walled stockade as protection
against the Indians. 1t was popularity known
as Suffers fort. On June 5, 1S46, there ar
rived at our fort a Mexican lieutenant named
Arce, who was on his way to Sonoma In
the course of conversation he incautiously let
fall that his errand was to procure horses to
be used in expelling the American residents.
''This statement seemed to demand instant
action Mr.. Suffer Immediately sent out
messengers to all the Americans in our
vicinity, and called on them to assemble at
his fort They did so on June Z and at that
meeting a long score of grievances in
fiicted by the Mexican government upon
Americans living in California was
discussed at length in addition to
what was now regarded as the expressed de-
termination of that power to expel the Amer
leans. After considerable debate, we finally
voted unanimously to anticipate Mexico by
declaring war against her. making all her al
caldes and other officials our prisoners and
seizing her military posts throughout Cali
fornia-all of them very poorly garrisoned-
before she would have time to take any steps
against It's. We dispatched a messenger to Gen.
Fremont, who then moved his camp about
thirty miles to the northward of us, asking
him to join his forces with ours, become our
commander in chief and unite with us in de-
claring war against Mexico. He refused to
comply with our request, but expressed SYM
patty with our purposes, and promised to re-
main in our vicinity in the hope that he
might afford us some indirect assistance.
Disappointed at not securing the active
cooperation of Fremont, we proceeded to
form military organization, and with great
heartness and unanimity we choose Ezekiel
Merritt as our commander Merritt was o
Vermont Yankee-a shrewd, bold, fearless,
rough spoken man of the Ethan Allen Israel
Putnam type Though strong as an OK and
brave as lion, he was also, when occasion
required, as tender and gentle as q woman,
was one of the best of nurses for a sick man.
We could not have chosen better chieftain
to lead us against the Mexicans, and under
his dauntless leadership we rode (all well
mounte6), directly to Slnoma the only town
and military post of Mexico north of the
Golden Gate. 1t was about noon on Sunday,
June a. that we entered Sonoma. The day
was intensely hot and the inhabitants were
Il
dows. They were taken completely by sur
prise, net having had the slightest inllling Of
our coming, and not soul imagined what our
errand was until we rode up to the Mexican
fort, and Merritt, our bold leader demanded
its immediate surrender, not as Col. Ethan
Allen once made q similar demand, SIN the
name of the continental congress and the
great Jehovah" but 'In the name of the in
dependent republic of California" The gar
rison, as much surprised as the people of the
town had been, was wholly unprepared for
any resistance, and, though we numbered
only thirty-two men, it was surrendered at
once.
"Though we all desired to use the American
flag, we felt that we had no right TO DO so, as
the United States was not at war with Mex
leo, and that we must have a standard of our
own after the manner OF Texas when she
declared her independence
We will have flag in spite Of every
thing said Mrs. John Sears, the wife of ono
of our number, who had pluckily accom-
panied her husband, and, retiring for short
time, she presently returned with a large
strip of muslin and smaller one of red fan
mel, both of which she had torn from her
garments To sew the flannel to the muslin
was the work of few minutes, and our flag
was complete save for some design yet to be
added William Todd, one of our number,
who thought he possessed some talent for
painting, volunteered TO act as our artist
Some paint was obtained from a neighboring
wheelwright's shop and Todd began by
painting lone star, in imitation of the Texan
flag Mr.. H. L. Ford, who had been one q
the most active participants in our move
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